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Thursday, April 5, 2012

The Merritt Award

This could be the longest day ever in the longest pregnancy ever! lol!!! So many things to announce here! I'm excited to share! Here it goes and bear with me:

We have (in a nonchalant way) decided to stay in Jackson at UMC for the rest of this journey.  Not sure if we ever really decided or if we just casually (won't say got pushed) became okay with it.  We were against it at first, but as certain circumstances became clear and more information was produced, we are okay with it.  Granted, we can still change our minds, but I don't really see that happening as of today.  MANY factors went into this that I won't share.  

I had NO idea what to expect today.  Receptionist told me to clear my schedule for the whole day.  
We showed up (of course in Miley-fashion lateness) at 8:06 am.  We met with the genetic counselor for close to an hour.  She had the roots of a therapist - which I discovered I am not cut out for.  I wasn't sure how to answer any of her very open-ended questions because there wasn't enough time in the day to do so!  She took me back to genetics class in the process and they can not take a joke!  Guess I am reaching that "I can joke about this now" phase - because when she asked if we had any family members with mental retardation, I asked if Miranda counted.  I'M KIDDING PEOPLE!! I have a new level of respect of parents and children in those situations beyond anything I ever imagined when you're faced with the possibilities.  But I was trying to lighten the mood.  Anyway... I thought the questions she asked were hilarious.  I'm kidding, Miranda!!! 

Moving on.  Had another/new detailed ultrasound with the sonographer.  Then the resident.  Then the attending/ my new maternal fetal specialist, Dr. B.  Interesting person.  There was one possible chromosomal abnormality that we were aware of, that an amniocentesis can not detect.   We looked for signs of that and saw none = no protruding tongue and normal sized kidneys.  But we will not know for sure of that possible abnormality (Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome) until she's born.  Her chances are slim.  We also saw that her stomach is right on the cusp of being pulled out into the O sac.  Part of it was already being stretched.  Not good, but what are you going to do about it?  Liver... intestines... lets throw a stomach in there while were at it.  ;)  again, kidding.  doesn't make a difference in the big scheme of things.  The base of the O is measuring 3.25cm which is large.  And will probably be over 5cm when she's born so it is classified as a giant omphalocele (but we already knew that).   If nothing happens before, Dr. B said he would most likely do the C-section between 37-38 weeks.  I'm due at the end of July, but this puts her birthday at the beginning of July (and just a few days after Mati Claire's - yay us ).  

Walked across the UMC campus in heels to have an MRI.  I've never had one before, so I was nervous.  Let me just say this:  I felt like I was trapped in a techno rave club's bathroom.  And the headphones didn't do much, because it triggered a migraine.  And Merritt did NOT enjoy it either.  The technicians were laughing as they removed my constraints and said she hands-down got the award for the most active baby E.V.E.R.  I don't blame her.  If I could have escaped as well...  I would have.  

Granted I never have to repeat that but I do have to repeat the amnio at 37 weeks to check on her lungs' maturity.  Not looking forward to that.  I would rather sit in the rave again.  :)

Walked back across UMC in heels WITH a migraine now.  

Met with the pediatric surgeon, Dr. B2.  Not the same as Dr. B.  He is not cocky, or arrogant, or have a God-complex.  Super nice and easy to talk to.  Yay!  Looooonnnnngggg story short:  there are basically 3 ways to fix an omphalocele.  1 of which is not really possible for Merritt because of its size.  So we have Plan A and Plan B.  All of which Merritt gets to decide.  Her heart and lung function will determine how they proceed so at the moment there is not a clear decision on how to fix it.  But EVENTUALLY it will be fixed, it make take weeks or many months.  Dr. B2 did not want to get our hopes up; so he told us a story of one child recently that had an O.  It was fixed and everything appeared to be fine, but something he could not have predicted changed the course and ultimately the child died due to other complications unrelated to the surgery.  Bottom line: surgery is another step in the process, but its not the total package if that makes any sense.  

I'll post more about that when the time comes.  Its really hard to explain all the possibilities and complications, etc. 

So it's 2:00 and this preggo still had not had lunch.  We were suppose to get our tour of the NICU, but we will get that later.  We did get to see some of the images from the MRI.  They are going to email some of the better ones to Matt tomorrow, so I can't wait to see them.  Will try to post them if I can = really neat.  According to the MRI, her O sac appears to be holding more of the liver than we thought and less of the intestines.  But that was just a draft picture, not official result.  

Overall good report today.  Nothing alarming but gained alot of new information.  

I had to meet the Kroger boss at 4:00 to discuss my evaluation and future.  HAHAHA!  I haven't worked in the pharmacy since the end of November, and I couldn't give him a day of when I might return.  I am blessed to have a husband with a good job that allows me to stay home when I need to.  And I am blessed to have such an understanding boss!  Dr. T will not allow me to work anyway until after baby gets here.

Came home at 6:00 pm to a story about Mati Claire kissing Collin!!!!!  I think he is one of the most adorable little boys in this town, but we had to have a long stern talk with her about kissing boys in general.   Through the whole discussion, I just kept asking myself "She's FOUR years old! When did this start?"  I could NOT believe I was having a talk with my 4 year old about kissing boys already!  Amy, I really hope Collin is not traumatized by this event! lol!!! He's a cutie though!  She gets a Merritt award for the bravest 4 year old I know (Collin is an older man by the way).  ;)  She said she loves him - but I told her she would have to find new ways of showing her love like in a card, or a hug, or flowers or something.  Lawdy, somebody help me!!!!! 


"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."   Psalm 139:14 

"Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy.  The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me..."  Psalm 28:6-7

1 comment:

Heather said...

Kennedy and Jason kiss and hug all the time. I love it...it's adorable!! And they only have eyes for each other!!! ha ha ha...